Scholarships

Incoming students

Watkins offers numerous scholarships to incoming students based on faculty recommendations after reviewing completed applications for admission and portfolio submissions. These range from the Commissioners’ Scholarship, which awards full-tuition for four years to one applicant each year, to smaller, individual recognition of excellence in scholarship and/or portfolio work. Usually only one scholarship is awarded to a student, but occasionally an unusually exceptional applicant may be offered a combination of scholarships. An institutional scholarship is determined through portfolio reviews and/or application materials, including artistic work submitted, the required essay, the recommendation, and prior academics. No separate application for scholarship is required.

Recipients will be informed within their letters of acceptance if they have been awarded an institutional scholarship. The amount indicated in the acceptance letter is only this scholarship. It does not reflect a full financial aid package amount. The applicant will receive a full award letter from the financial aid department which will include the scholarship being offered, as well as any federal and state aid which the applicant is entitled to receive. Please see the section on Financial Aid for additional information.

Unless otherwise stated, all awards are based on full-time enrollment of 12 to 15 hours per semester and are prorated for part-time enrollment. The annual amount is divided equally between the fall and spring semesters. Some awards are given over a period of years and may be dependent upon maintaining a certain cumulative GPA for continuing eligibility. This will be indicated in the award letter. All scholarships offers are dependent upon successful application, registration and completion of the semester of the year of the award. If a student withdraws during the award period, the scholarship will be forfeited.

Deadlines for scholarship consideration for incoming students

For scholarship consideration, applicants must submit a completed application for admission by:

Note: Tennessee Hope Scholarship Recipients

As of fall 2015, the award for incoming students qualifying for the Tennessee Hope Scholarship and entering a 4-year college is scheduled to be reduced from $4,000 to $3,500 for the first two years of study. To offset this reduction, Watkins will award each qualifying entering student an extra $500 scholarship for each of the affected two years.

Continuing students

Watkins rewards talent and scholarship achievement in our continuing students. Trustee and Presidential Awards are given based on the cumulative grade point average at the end of the spring semester. If the cumulative GPA is 3.25 to 3.64, the student receives the Trustee Award in the amount of $500 towards tuition and fees in the coming year. If the cumulative GPA is 3.65 or above, the student receives the Presidential Award in the amount of $1,000. The amount is split evenly between the fall and spring semesters and the amount is based on full-time registration of 12 or more credit hours per semester. The award is pro-rated for the semester if the student registers for less than full-time.

The individual departments can also award merit scholarships to continuing students. The amount, application procedure and deadline to apply can vary so the student should check with his or her advisor for more information.